Method for manufacture of sulphuric acid



Nov. 13 1923. L

F. RUDOLF ET AL METHOD FOR MANUFACTURE OF SULPHURIC ACID Filed Dec. 17, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3. z i K H I VENTOR Nov. 13, H923. 1,473,879

v I F. RUDOLF ET AL METHOD FOR MANUFACTURE OF SULPHURIC ACID F iled Dec. 17, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllll Patented Nov. 13, 1923 star FERDINAND A. RUDOLF, OF JAMAICA, NEW YORK, AND JAMES C. RYDER, OEPASSAIG, NEW JERSEY.

mHOD FOB MANUFACTURE OF SULPHUEIG ACID.

Application flied December 17, 1921. Serial No. 528,089.

To allfwhom concern:

Be it known that we, FERDINAND A. RU- now and JAMns C. RYDER, citizens of the United States, and residents, respectively, of Jamaica, Queens County, New York, and Passaic, Passaic County, New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Methods for Manufacture of Sulphuric Acid, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the method of and apparatus for manufacturing sulphuric acid.

It is an object of the invention to provid for the formation of sulphur trioxide, which is subsequently absorbed to form sulphuric acid, by intimately admixing sulphur in a finely comminuted or vaporized state and heated air, the preferred method being the spraying of sulphur either in a molten, dry or vaporized state and a catalytic a ent into an atmosphere of highly heated air. 7

Other objects of the invention will appear as the description progresses.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a conventional representation of the apparatus used when elementary sul' phur is sprayed into the heated air; and

Figure 2 is a similar view of the apparatus used when iron pyrites is used instead of elementary sulphur.

When elementary sulphur is used it is in' jected in a molten or vaporized state into an atmosphere of highly heated air. The molten sulphur is forced into this atmosphere of heated air by incoming heated air under pressure, which insures the comminution of the sulphur into such a fine state that it is intimately admixed with the heated air and immediately will be oxidized.

A finely divided catalytic agent is injected into the atmosphere of heated air, and intimately admixed with the airand with the injected sulphur, so. that the oxidation of the sulphur will be complete. While we do not wish to be limited to the .use of any particular catalytic agent, we have found that iron pyrites functions satisfactorily in that the iron is converted to Fe O, which is, of course, a catalytic agent.

It is our present belief that when the molten sulphur and the iron pyrites are sprayed into the atmosphere of heated air, the intimate admixture of the same results in the formation of sulphur trioxide, the iron pyrites acting as a catalyzer to assist in the conversion of any sulphur dioxide which I may be formed to sulphur trioxide. pyrites itself is oxidized to iron oxide, F e 0 giving up sulphur which further increases the yield of sulphur trioxide.

The

The sulphur trioxide forms as a gas and passes oil to suitable scrubbing and absorption apparatus, while the iron oxide, Fe O gravitates from the gas as a solid and is thus separated therefrom.

The sulphur trioxide thus formed is then brought in contact with steam and sulphuric acid by which it is, absorbed. The iron oxide, Fe,0,, may again be used as a catalyzer for conversion of additional sulphur in place of iron pyrites.

When iron pyrites is used mentary sulphur, the pyrites is finely comminuted and injected into an atmosphere of heated air. The sulphur constituent of the pyrites is converted into sulphur trioxide and the iron constituent to the iron oxide, Fe O this iron oxide being finely divided and'acting as a catalytic agent to insure the complete conversion of any sulphur dioxide which may be formed to sulphur trioxide.

The sulphur trioxide thus formed is passed into contact with steam and sulphuric acid, bv which it is absorbed.

Thus it will be seen that when either elementary sulphur or iron pyrites is injected into the atmosphere of heated air, the sulphur is converted into sulphur trioxide and passes 0E as a. gas, while the iron constituent of the pyrites is converted into Fe,O and gravitates as a solid.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, which illustrates an apparatus for carrying out the method when molten sulphur is used, a furnace or generator 1 is provided at its upper end'with a valved air conduit 2. A fuel burner 3 extends into this conduit 2, and it is used for the purpose of. raising the temperature within the generator 1 preliminary to the injection of sulphur into the generator. with a valve 4, so that after the generator has been raised to the proper temperature and the reaction begun, the burning of fuel may be suspended. interpolated in the conduit 2 through which the heated air enters the generator 1, is a coil 5, which is located Within the generator and through which the air passes from its source to the generator. The passage of the air through this coil 5 instead of elephur communicates with the conduit 2,

through a valved injector Located with in the reservoir 6 is a heating coil 8, whlch operates to maintain the sulphur in a molten condition and at a predetermined and controllable temperature.

. A mechanical conveyor 9 extends into the conduit 2 below the sulphur injector 7, and is adapted to feed iron pyrites or any other suitable catalyzer into the conduit 2, so that it will pass with the molten sulphur and incoming heated air into the generator 1.

In operation the temperature of the air within the generator 1 1S raised to the desired degree by the burning of suitable fuel from the injector 3. The molten sulphur, together with the iron pyrites or other catalytic agent, are injected into the incoming heated air so that the sulphur and catalyzer are in a finely divided condition and are thoroughly admixed with the incoming heated air and the heated air in the generator 1. This thorough admixing of the finely comminuted sulphur and catalytic agent with the heated air insures the burning of the sulphur to sulphur trioxide.

After the reaction has begun the heat generated thereby will be sufficient to maintain a proper temperature within the generator 1 without the burning of fuel from the burner 3. Furthermore, the heat of the reaction raises the temperature of the air in the coil 5 so that it will enter the generator 1 in a heated condition.

The sulphur trioxide formed passes off through a dust separator 9 to suitable towers 10 where it is passed through my of the well known scrubbing towers in contact with steam and sulphuric acid, by Wl'ilCiil J will be absorbed. The iron oxide ,lfe U which is formed by the reaction falls to the bottom of the generator 1, and is removed as desired through a trap 13.

Referrin to Fi ure 2 which illustrates the apparatus used when 1r is burned instead of elements.rsuioaur. there a .i i

ti u; per u the conduit Tv'lllCil form. This conveyor discharges the pyrit: into the conduit 13 in the direction of fl-J.

sired point by the fuel burner 15.

of the heated air. The iron pyrites in a finely conuninutcd condition is fed from the hopper 16 by the conveyor 17 into the conduit 18, the temperature within the generator 12 having previously been raised to the de- The contact o the pyrites with the heated air under pressure in the conduit 13 causes the spraying of the pyrites into the generator 12 where the sulphur of the pyrites is oxidized into sulphur trioxide and the iron to the iron oxide Fe O The heat of the reaction raises the temperature of the incoming air as it passes through the coil 14 and makes unnecessary the continued burning of the fuel in the injector 15.

The sulphur trioxide gas passes off from the generator through a dust separator 18 to suitable scrubbing towers 19, where it contacts with steam and sulphuric acid and is absorbed by the latter.

The iron oxide R2 0 falls to the bottom of the generator 12 and may be withdrawn through a trap 20, as desired.

l v e claim our invention:

1. The method of oxidizing sulphur which consists in injecting finely divided lum: into an atmosphere of air in the ence of catalytic agent.

1.. "1 l 0 method of oxidizing sulphur whic consists in injecting sulphur and iron pyr'tcs into an atmosphere of heated air.

The method of oxidizing sulphur ion consists in injecting molten sulphur iron pyrites into an atmosphere of heat ed air.

The method of oxidizing sulphur which consists in injecting finely divided sulphur and iron pyrites into an atmosphere of heated air.

The method of manufacturing sulphur triojside which consists in injecting sulphur into an atmosphere of heated air in the presence of a sulphur bearing catalytic a ent. I

The method of manufacturing sulphur tr onide which consists in injecting finely divided sulphur into an atmosphere of heated in. the presence of a finely divided sulphur bearing catalytic agent.

The method of manufacturing sulphur trioride which consists in admixing elemensulphur, sulphur bearing catalytic t and heated air.

8. .ihe method of manufacturing sulphur trioxidc which consists in admixing finely divided. elementary sulphur, a finely divided sulphur hearing catalytic agent and heated air.

9. The method of oxidizing sulphur which comprises injecting finely divided sulphur into. an atmosphere of heated air in the presence of a catalytic agent and heating said solely by the heat of the reaction. 7

10. The method of oxidizing sulphur imae'ze which comprises passin air through a coil in the upper portion 0 a cylindrical reaction chamber to preheat said air, conducting the preheated air by a circuitous route out of said coil and back into the reaction chamber proper, and injecting finely divided sulphur and catalytic material into said reheated air just prior to its second and nal entrance into said reaction chamber.

11. The method of oxidizing sulphur which comprises passin air through a coil in the upper portion 0 a cylindrical reaction chamber, to preheat said air by the heat of the reaction, conducting the preheated air by a circuitous route out of the preheating coil and back into the reaction chamber proper and injecting finel divided sulphur and sulphur bearing cata ytic material into the hot air just prior to its final entrance nace, means for injecting air is rough the C? said furnace whereby it absorbs a part of the heat of the reaction, means for injecting the heated air into the furnace, and means for injecting a catalytic a ent into the mixture of sulphur and heat air.

In testimony "whereof, We have signed our names to this specification this leth day of December, 1921.

FERDINAND J C. RYDER. 

